Sonic Chessboard / Optical Octophonic Audio Panner – DIY Kit

The Sonic Chessboard is a unique musical instrument that combines chess and sound, inspired by Lowell Cross’ design for John Cage’s Reunion (1968). By covering the board with chess pieces, you can control the routing of 16 audio signals to 8 outputs, creating spatial sound experiences. This limited edition kit includes all the necessary components to build your own Sonic Chessboard and challenge your friends for sonic chess!

Play chess and compose music, at the same time! This Sonic Chessboard is a passive Optical Octophonic Audio Panner / light sensitive “chessboard”, based on the design by Lowell Cross for John Cage’s and Marcel Duchamps’ musical chess performance Reunion (1968). It routes 16 audio signals via the 64 light dependent resistors to 8 separate audio outputs. Cover the squares on the board with chess pieces (not included) or your hands to make sounds roll through a room and add to the spatial distribution of all the different inputs. Best to be played with a strong bright light mounted on the ceiling above the chessboard. The materials were originally made in small series for Wouter Jaspers’ installative sound performance “Indeterminate Structures (2023).

Includes:

• Full size CNC machined cork chessboard (10mm x 480mm x 480mm)
• Professionally manufactured annotated PCB (Size: 423mm x 423mm )
• All electronic components (resistors, light dependent resistors, 3.5mm audio connectors)
• Standoffs, washers and bolts to mount the board to the cork chessboard
• 3D and CNC Files for cutting your own board on a CNC router or lasercutter
• Manual and build Instructions

The PCB’s are professionally manufactured and all electronic parts are of high quality from reputable manufacturers, bought from reputable distributors. The cork chessboard comes untreated and without the black squares, it’s up to you to make the chessboard your own.